Rescuers were desperately racing against the clock to reach 13 miners trapped about two miles into a West Virginia coal mine yesterday before their lifesaving, air-purifying packs ran out.

Officials said they did not know how much air the stranded miners had – or even if they were still alive.

There has been no contact with the men since the 6 a.m. explosion – believed to have been triggered by severe lightning storms.

“It’s a horrible freak accident,” said New York billionaire Wilbur Ross, the chairman of the mine’s owner, International Coal Group.

“Our main concern is the . . . men and our focus is to get them out.”

One coworker at the Sago Mine in Tallmansville, located 100 miles northeast of Charleston, said the men had air-purifying equipment that only lasted 7 hours – but no oxygen tanks.

The first two of eight search teams were only able to start rescue efforts 12 hours after dangerously high toxic gas levels of carbon monoxide were cleared from the mine at around 3 p.m., according to Steve Milligan, of the Upshur County Dept. of Emergency Management.

Holes had to be drilled into the ground to allow the combustible gases to escape.

“It could be hours, or it could be days,” Milligan said.

Company officials believe the trapped miners were about two miles inside the mine, about 260 feet under the ground. The search crew entered the mine on foot for fear of sparking another explosion.

Four co-workers tried to reach the miners right after the explosion, but were stopped by a wall of debris. The blast also knocked out the mine’s communication equipment.

“There’s always that possibility, that hope and that chance, they were able to go to a part of the mine that still has safe air,” said West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin.

“You just have to hope that the explosions weren’t of the magnitude that was horrific from the beginning.

“There’s places they can retreat in all these mines. They have catacombs,” he said.

“We’re really hoping and praying for a speedy recovery and a safe recovery for them.

“We don’t know what could have happened. It was just a horrific accident,” he said.

Residents said the blast shook nearby houses.

Hundreds of family and friends gathered at a nearby Baptist church where the Red Cross set up operations.

Anna McCoy said her husband, Randall, 27, was among those missing. She said he had worked at the mine for three years “but was looking to get out. It was too dangerous.”

Samantha Lewis, whose 28-year-old husband, David, was among those trapped, said he worked the mines so that he could be home every night to take care of their three daughters while she worked on a master’s degree in healthcare administration.

“This was a good way to make a living until we could find something else,” said Lewis, whose father, grandfather and stepfather also worked in the mines.

“It’s just a way of life. Unless you’re a coal miner or you have a college degree, you don’t make any money.”

Loretta Ables, whose fiancee, 59-year-old Fred Ware Jr., was one of the trapped miners said, “He’s worked in this mine for six years. He said that’s the way he’s gonna go – in the mines.”

“He was going to call in sick today but he wanted to make more money for the holidays,” she said.

The mine has a single entrance, and the shaft winds its way for miles underground.

Two cars were entering the mine and the second car, carrying six miners, made it out after feeling the effects of the explosion.

Federal inspectors have issued safety citations against the coal mine.

Inspectors cited the Sago mine for 46 alleged violations of federal mine health and safety rules during an 11-week review that ended Dec. 22, according to WCHS8 TV.

There were also worries about a build-up of carbon monoxide from fires in the mine, said Terry Farley of the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training.

Since October, authorities have issued 50 citations to the mine. Administration records indicate violations involved safeguarding against roof falls, and plans to control methane and breathable dust. .